Mirra Andreeva started the 2026 season as confidently as possible. Early on Saturday morning, the 18-year-old Russian won the WTA 500 tournament in Adelaide, beating Canadian Victoria Mboko in the final. The match turned out to be fleeting, but revealing – 6:3, 6:1 in 1 hour 4 minutes.

The Russian started the tournament as the eighth racket in the world and looked collected and calm all week. The victory in Australia was the fourth in her career at the WTA level and a good benchmark before the start of the Australian Open. Mboko, ranked 17th in the rankings, also approached the final in excellent form, but at the decisive moment it was Andreeva who was more stable and accurate.

How the final match unfolded

The start of the meeting was left to the Canadian. Mboko immediately set a high pace, actively went on the attack and quickly took a 3:0 lead. At these moments, Andreeva made inaccuracies, missed forehand shots and did not immediately catch the desired rhythm.

The turning point came after the Russian confidently took her serve and then made a reverse break. From that moment on, the match took a completely different scenario. Andreeva began to load her opponent in the corners more often, added variety and stopped rushing in rallies. A series of inaccuracies by Mboko and a double mistake on a break point by her opponent allowed Mirra to take the lead – 4:3.

Mirra Andreeva / Photo: © Mark Brake / Stringer / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

The ending of the first set was controlled by the Russian. A shortened shot, another break and an accurate backhand into the right corner – 6:3 in favor of Andreeva.

In the second set, the intrigue did not last long. Mirra immediately took her serve, then scored a break and quickly went ahead – 3:0. Mboko managed to take one game, but this was the Canadian’s only success in the second game. Andreeva acted without fuss, confidently kept the ball in the court and brought the match to victory – 6:1.

The final was completed in 64 minutes. Andreeva made one ace, made one double fault and converted five out of 10 break points. Mboko hit two straight serves, made three service errors and used the only break point she managed to earn during the match. In terms of key indicators, the Russian’s advantage looked convincing.

Mirra Andreeva / Photo: © Mark Brake / Stringer / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

In the semi-finals, Andreeva beat Diana Schneider with a score of 6:3, 6:2, not allowing her compatriot to force a protracted fight. Mboko, in turn, confidently beat Australian Kimberly Birrell – 6:2, 6:1. The final looked like a logical conclusion to the tournament, but it was Mirra who looked most ready in it.

“I don’t even understand why you’re here.”

After the match, Andreeva came out for an interview in a great mood. She first congratulated Mboko and her team, noting the Canadian’s progress and strong tournament week. Mirra then thanked her team for their hard work and tough training.

— Congratulations to Vicky and her team. You have been showing amazing tennis since last year. I want to celebrate your great week and congratulate you on it. I hope there are many more finals together in the future. I don’t know, it’s probably my team’s turn next, but I feel that all this is primarily thanks to me. I don’t even know what to say. I’ve trained a lot, worked a lot, sweated a lot, and honestly, I don’t even understand why you’re here. No, of course I’m joking.

Thanks to Conchita and Agut for pushing me to the limit, making me work every day. Thanks to Alexey for sparring with me every day and sometimes even driving me crazy. And yes, thanks to my friends who came and supported me at every match I played. And, of course, thanks to my mother – she is always there for me and always provides me with great support. So a big thank you to my team,” Mirra said in an on-court interview.

Mirra Andreeva / Photo: © Mark Brake / Stringer / Getty Images Sport / Gettyimages.ru

The most memorable part of the interview was the self-irony. Andreeva thanked herself several times – for her courage, for her work in training and for being able to change her thinking and fight until the last rally. It is no coincidence that she gave interviews wearing a T-shirt with the inscription “I want to say thank you to myself.”

The title in Adelaide was Mirra Andreeva’s fourth in her career and first in the 2026 season. Now the Russian woman will perform at the Australian Open, where she goes as the winner of the WTA 500 tournament and with confident play.

Tennis player Daria Kasatkina, who previously represented Russia, received a certificate of Australian citizenship.

On social networks, the athlete published a photo with the corresponding document.

Daria Kasatkina / Photo: © Social networks of Daria Kasatkina

In March 2025, Kasatkina announced that she would represent Australia at the competition. At recent tournaments she competed under the Australian flag.

Kasatkina is 28 years old, a native of Togliatti, ranked 48th in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) rankings, and has eight victories in WTA singles tournaments.

Russian Mirra Andreeva gave an unusual comment on the court after winning the final of the WTA 500 tournament in Adelaide (Australia).

The first racket of Russia Andreeva beat Canadian Victoria Mboko in the final with a score of 6:3, 6:1. In the first set, the 18-year-old Russian woman fought back from a 0:3 score.

“Now I need to thank my team.” But I think I did everything myself. I trained and worked hard. I don’t know why you came with me! Just kidding, of course. Thank you for making me work, sometimes through anger, but you always support me. And thank you for being brave in the matches. Thank you for being able to change my mood,” The Tennis Letter quotes Andreeva.

Andreeva won her first title this season.